JP4190270B2 - Article supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention measures predetermined items of articles such as crops (including fruit and vegetables) such as mandarin oranges, apples, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, eggplants, carrots, strawberries, green onions, fishery products, ball balls, foods, parts, etc. The present invention relates to an article supply apparatus provided in an apparatus for performing the above.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an apparatus for transferring crops in the above-described example, for example, an upstream conveyor apparatus is configured to rotate and move each adsorption element of a transfer apparatus disposed between an upstream conveyor apparatus and a downstream conveyor apparatus in the horizontal direction. The agricultural product sorting apparatus of Patent Document 1 that holds and holds the farm products on the tray to be transported one by one with an adsorber, and transfers the sucked and held crops one by one to the tray that the downstream conveyor device transports. is there.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-140770.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the above-described sorting apparatus transfers the crops one by one from the tray conveyed by the upstream conveyor device to the tray conveyed by the downstream conveyor device, it takes time and time to transfer a large number of crops. Not only is this time consuming, it is difficult to match the adsorption timing of the crops and adsorbents with the transfer timing of the crops and trays, and the transfer operation cannot be performed at high speed. In addition, when a plurality of agricultural products are collectively transferred to a plurality of trays conveyed by the downstream conveyor device, the conveyance distance corresponding to the movement distance substantially equivalent to the length in which the plurality of trays are arranged in the conveyance direction and the movement distance thereof are used. Since time is required, all the trays on which the crops are placed are carried out of the transfer section of the transfer device, or a plurality of trays on which the crops are placed are transferred into the transfer section of the transfer device. There is a problem that time loss that occurs sometimes is large and work efficiency is poor.
[0005]
In view of the above problems, the present invention moves a container in which a plurality of articles are contained and a plurality of placement sections on which the articles are placed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction to supply the container and the placement section. It is an object of the present invention to provide an article supply apparatus capable of shortening the operation time required for supplying the articles and improving the efficiency of the article supply work and the transfer work.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention conveys a container carrying means for carrying a container containing a plurality of articles, a container placing means for placing a container containing the articles, and a placement section on which the articles are placed. Placed on the container placement means, the placement portion conveyance means composed of the first placement portion conveyance means and the second placement portion conveyance means provided side by side with the first placement portion conveyance means An article transfer means for transferring an article to a plurality of placement parts conveyed by the placement part conveyance means from the container, and the container placement from the container conveyance means by moving the container in a direction substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction. A container supply means for supplying to the means; a container collection means for removing the container from which the article has been removed from the container placement means; and a side part of the first placement section transport means; Placement unit supply having a pusher that abuts against the side surface of the placement unit and moves back and forth A stage on which the article is placed and horizontally moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction by the pusher of the above-described placement part supply means, and the second placement from the first placement part transport means It is an article supply apparatus which supplies to a part conveyance means .
[0007]
The above-mentioned articles are composed of crops (including fruit and vegetables) such as mandarin oranges, apples, tomatoes, strawberries, pears, peaches, peppers, eggplants, carrots, strawberries, green onions, seafood, ball balls, foods, parts, etc. Is done. The container is constituted by a container, a cardboard box, or the like having a strength necessary for transporting and transporting a plurality of agricultural products, for example. In addition, the container transport means includes, for example, a container transport device that transports a container in which a plurality of crops are stored, a conveyor that directly transports the crops, and the like. In addition, the container placing means includes, for example, a container placing table on which a container is placed, a pair of support plates, and a conveyor.
[0008]
Further, the placement unit is configured by, for example, a free tray, a tray, a pan, or the like on which crops are individually placed. In addition, the container transport means, the placement section transport means, the first placement section transport means, and the second placement section transport means are, for example, a tray transport device that transports trays, a conveyor that transports trays, pans, and the like, It is comprised by the conveyor etc. which convey, for example, can be comprised by a roller conveyor, a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor etc. Further, the article transfer means, for example, the tray transfer device transfers the first transfer device that transfers the agricultural product stored in the container to the mounting plate of the transfer remaining processing device and the agricultural product mounted on the mounting plate. A second transfer device that transfers to a tray is used. In addition, the container supply means includes, for example, a transfer device and a pusher, an arm, a hook, and the like for transferring a container in which the crop is stored, and the placement unit supply means includes, for example, a plurality of trays on which the crop is placed. It can be composed of a transfer device and a pusher, arm, hook, etc. for transfer. The article supply device includes, for example, a container transfer device, a tray transfer device, a transfer remaining processing device, a first transfer device, a second transfer device, and the like.
[0009]
That is, the container or the plurality of containers transported by the container transporting unit is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transporting direction by the container supply unit, and is supplied and transferred from the container transporting unit to the container mounting unit. The contained article in a container, after the first loading portion conveying means of the bearing member conveying means from the placed container is transfer an article transfer means with respect to mounting portion for transporting the container mounting means, the article Is horizontally moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction by the pusher of the mounting section supply means, and is supplied from the first mounting section transport means to the second mounting section transport means. The placement part on which the article is placed is transported and supplied to the next process (for example, an item measurement process or a sorting process) by the second placement part transporting means . The container from which all articles have been removed is removed from the container placing means by the container collecting means and supplied to the collecting step.
[0010]
As an embodiment, the container supply means is a container transfer means (for example, a transfer device or the like) that transfers a plurality of containers conveyed by the container transfer means to the container placement means while being aligned in the transfer direction. ) Ru can be configured in. In addition, the above-described placement unit supply means is moved collectively from the first placement unit transport unit to the second placement unit transport unit while the plurality of placement units on which the article is placed are aligned in the transport direction. It can be configured by mounting unit transfer means (for example, a transfer device) to be mounted.
[0011]
[Action and effect]
According to this invention, since the container in which the article is stored and the placement portion on which the article is placed are moved and supplied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, the container and the placement portion are moved in the transport direction. In addition, the movement distance is short, and the operation time required when supplying the container and the placement unit can be shortened. In addition, since a plurality of containers and placement units are moved and supplied in a batch while being aligned in the transport direction, the work of transferring and supplying a plurality of articles can be performed efficiently, and the efficiency of the article supply work and the transfer work is improved. Can be achieved.
[0012]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
The drawings show an object measuring device for measuring predetermined items of an entire crop that is an example of an article. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the object measuring device 10 includes a predetermined number (for example, 24). A container transport device 20 that transports the container B in which the crops A are accommodated to the supply section a set on the transport path, and a transfer remaining processing device 30 that temporarily places the crop A ... taken out from the container B; A tray transport device 40 that transports a number of trays C that substantially correspond to the crops A to the transfer section b set on the transport path, and a predetermined number (for example, one row = 6) stored in the container B. The first transfer device 50 for transferring the remaining crops A to the transfer remaining processing device 30 and the crops A placed on the transfer remaining processing device 30 to the tray C transferred to the transfer section b. The second transfer device 60 and the predetermined items of the entire crop A And it determines and an item measuring device 70.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 13, the above-described container B includes a buffer member Ba having flexibility, and a recess Bb in which various sizes of crops A are individually stored and held. They are formed at a predetermined interval with respect to the upper surface (for example, 24) and are arranged in a grid pattern as shown in FIG. Moreover, you may arrange | position the recessed part Bb in the zigzag form shown to (b).
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the container transporting device 20 includes a transport conveyor 21 that transports the containers B containing the crops A to the supply section a set on the transport path, and the crops A. The container mounting tables 23 and 23 for individually mounting the containers B accommodated therein are also provided, and the containers B and B transported to the supply section a are transferred from the transport conveyor 21 to the container mounting tables 23 and 23. The loading device 22 and the container B from which the crops A ... have been removed are transported to the recovery process, and the container B from which the crops A are left are transferred to an unmounted tray C that is transported by a transport conveyor 43 described later. The collection conveyor 24 to be transported to the replenishment process is disposed at the lower part of the transport path, and the transfer residue on which one row (for example, twelve) of crops A to be transferred by the first transfer device 50 described later is temporarily mounted. The processing apparatus 30 is placed on the side of the container mounting table 23. It is disposed.
[0015]
In addition, the transfer device 22 has a standby position where the pusher 22a protruding on the conveyor 21 is abutted against the side surface of the container B conveyed to the supply section a, and the container B is placed on the container mounting table 23. For example, the container B is rotated to a transfer position to be transferred by a rotation device 22b such as an air cylinder or a solenoid, and the container B is horizontally moved in a direction (width direction) substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction of the transfer conveyor 21. Then, it is transferred to the container mounting table 23.
[0016]
In addition, the container mounting table 23 is, for example, an air cylinder or the like at an elevated position that is substantially horizontal with the conveying surface of the upper conveyor 21 and a lowered position that is lowered below the conveying surface of the lower collecting conveyor 24. It moves up and down by a lifting device 23a such as a chain mechanism. In addition, the pair of support plates 23b arranged to face the front and rear end portions of the container B placed on the container mounting table 23 are a closed position where the front and rear end portions of the container B are supported substantially horizontally, and the support positions thereof. For example, an advancing / retreating device 23c such as an air cylinder or a solenoid moves back and forth to the open position where is released.
[0017]
The transfer residual processing device 30 described above has a pair of mounting plates 31 on which the crop A for one row held by the first transfer device 50 described later is mounted on the side of the container mounting table 23 described above. In close proximity, it is disposed at a substantially intermediate portion between the container transport device 20 and the tray transport device 40, and is installed at a height that is substantially horizontal to the container B mounted on the container mounting table 23 described above. In addition, the mounting plates 31, 31 have an opening / closing device 32 such as an air cylinder, a solenoid, or a motor at a closed angle at which the crop A is mounted and an open angle at which the crop A is discharged substantially downward. Rotate in conjunction with.
[0018]
In addition, when one or two crops A are left behind on the mounting plates 31 and 31 due to the adsorbing element 62a being missed or dropped from the adsorbing member 62a, the mounting plates 31 and 31 A receiving plate 33 for receiving the released crop A is disposed at the lower portion on the discharge side of the mounting plates 31, 31, and the unmounted tray C on which the transfer mistaken crop A is transported by a transport conveyor 43 described later. A return conveyor 34 that is transported to the replenishment process is transferred to the lower part of the receiving plate 33 on the discharge side.
[0019]
And the receiving plate 33 is between the receiving angle which receives the crop A discharged | emitted from the mounting plates 31 and 31, and the discharge | emission angle which the agricultural product A discharge | releases substantially diagonally downward toward the return conveyor 34, for example, It rotates up and down at a speed slower than the falling speed of the crop A by a rotating means having a braking function such as an oil damper or a speed reducer.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the tray transfer device 40 described above is a transfer in which a free tray C on which a crop A to be transferred by a second transfer device 60 described later is placed is set on the transfer path. A transport conveyor 41 for transporting to the section b and a transport conveyor 43 for transporting the tray C on which the crop A is placed to the next step (for example, a sorting step) are provided, and the tray on which the crop A has been placed and not placed A transfer device 42 for transferring C ... from the transfer conveyor 41 to the transfer conveyor 43 is disposed on the side of the transfer path. Further, the tray C from which the crop A that has been returned and transported from the sorting step (not shown) is removed substantially corresponds to the transfer operation of the transfer device 42 and the transfer operation of the second transfer device 60. Returned to the top.
[0021]
In addition, in the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41, a necessary number of trays C for mounting the crop B left on the containers B and the mounting plates 31, 31, that is, a transfer unit 62 described later. The adsorbents 62a are supplied in excess of a predetermined number (for example, 1 and 2) more than the number of adsorption (for example, 12) of the crops A that are adsorbed and held.
[0022]
In addition, the stoppers 44 and 45 disposed between the conveyors 41 and 43 and the stoppers 46 and 47 disposed before and after the transfer section b are used to convey the tray C on which the crop A is placed from the conveyor 41 to the conveyor. When the tray C that has been transferred and not mounted on the transport belt 43 is transported to the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41, substantially corresponding to the transfer operation of the transfer device 42 and the transfer operation of the second transfer device 60, for example, It moves in and out by advancing and retracting means such as an air cylinder and solenoid.
[0023]
In addition, the transfer device 42 has a size in which the pusher 42a disposed on the side of the transfer conveyor 41 is brought into contact with a predetermined number (for example, 14) of trays C ... transferred to the transfer section b. And a transfer position where all the trays C are collectively transferred to the transport conveyor 43, for example, an air cylinder, a solenoid, or the like. Are moved back and forth by the advancing / retreating device 42 b , and all trays C... Are horizontally moved in the direction (width direction) substantially orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying conveyors 41, 43 and are collectively transferred to the conveying conveyor 43.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 11, the first transfer device 50 described above moves the movable frame 51 above the container mounting table 23 of the container transport device 20 and above the mounting plates 31 and 31 of the transfer remaining processing device 30. A pair of transfer units 52 are attached to the lower surface of the movable frame 51 so as to be movable up and down in correspondence with the containers B and B conveyed to the supply section a. Further, a loop-shaped endless belt 53 connected to the movable frame 51 is rotated forward and backward by a motor with a speed reducer (not shown), so that the transfer unit 52 is moved above the container mounting table 23 and the pair of mounting plates 31. Move back and forth.
[0025]
In addition, the transfer unit 52 moves the elevating cylinder 54 erected on the upper part of the movable frame 51 up and down and rotates the screw shaft 55 forward and backward with a motor 56 with a speed reducer 56 and gears 56a and 56b. The crop A pressed by the upper surface of the crop A in the container B and adsorbed and held by the adsorber 52a is vertically lowered to the height at which the crop A is placed on the placement plates 31 and 31. In addition, when moving above the container mounting table 23 and above the mounting plates 31 and 31, the container B itself and the crop A stored in the container B and the crop A mounted on the mounting plates 31 and 31 Ascends vertically to avoid contact.
[0026]
In addition, a plurality of adsorbents 52a of the transfer unit 52 are vertically suspended (for example, six) so as to be vertically movable so as to substantially face the row of the crops A accommodated in the container B. When the agricultural product A is adsorbed and held by the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generator, and the agricultural product A is transferred to the placement plates 31 and 31, the adsorption is released.
[0027]
In addition, the adsorbents 52a are expanded / contracted according to the arrangement state of the crops A accommodated in the container B (for example, the checkered pattern and the staggered pattern shown in FIG. ) Agricultural products A... In a proximity state pressed against the upper surface, and a separated state in which the crops A are individually placed on the tray C transported to the transfer section b on the conveyor 41. For example, the expansion / contraction operation is performed via an expansion / contraction device 52b such as an air cylinder, a solenoid, or a screw shaft, and a pantograph type link mechanism 52c.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 12, the second transfer device 60 described above can move the movable frame 61 horizontally above the placement plates 31 and 31 of the transfer remaining processing device 30 and above the transport conveyor 41 of the tray transport device 40. The transfer unit 62 is attached to the lower surface of the movable frame 61 so as to be movable up and down. In addition, a loop-shaped endless belt 63 connected to the movable frame 61 is rotated forward and backward by a motor with a reduction gear (not shown), and the transfer unit 62 is reciprocated above the mounting plates 31 and 31 and above the transport conveyor 41. Moving.
[0029]
In addition, the transfer unit 62 moves up and down a lifting cylinder 64 standing on the upper portion of the movable frame 61 and rotates a screw shaft 65 forward and backward by a motor 66 with a speed reducer and gears 66a and 66b. The crop A that is pressed onto the top surface of the crop A placed on the placement plates 31 and 31 and sucked and held by the adsorbent 62 a vertically descends to the height at which the crop A is placed on the tray C. Further, when moving above the placement plates 31 and 31 and above the transport conveyor 41, it moves horizontally and vertically while maintaining a distance that avoids contact with the imaging camera 71 and the illumination device 72 of the item measuring device 70 described later. .
[0030]
Further, the adsorbers 62a of the transfer unit 62 are substantially opposite to the crops A placed on the placement plates 31 and 31 and the trays C conveyed to the transfer section b on the conveyor 41. When a plurality of vertical crops A are mounted vertically (for example, twelve) and spaced closely to the upper surface of the crop A mounted on the mounting plates 31, 31, a negative pressure is applied. When the crop A is adsorbed and held by the negative pressure generated by the generator and the crop A is transferred to the tray C, the adsorption is released.
[0031]
The adsorber 62a is rotated horizontally (for example, approximately 270 degrees) through the gears 62c and 62e and the rack 62d by a rotating device 62b such as a motor, an air cylinder, or a solenoid. Further, the rotation angle of the adsorber 62a may be changed to, for example, an angle of about 270 degrees or more and below.
[0032]
The aforementioned adsorbers 52a and 62a are connected to a negative pressure generator (not shown) such as an intake blower or a vacuum pump, for example, and are substantially annular restriction frames as viewed from the plane attached to the outer peripheral portions of the adsorbers 52a and 62a. 57 and 67 regulate the adsorbents 52a and 62a on which the crop A is adsorbed and held in a substantially vertical posture to prevent rolling.
[0033]
The number of adsorbents 52a and 62a may be changed depending on the number of arrangements of the crops A. For example, the crops A may be transferred one by one or in a plurality of rows (for example, two rows before and after). It is also possible to transfer the crops A to the trays C at a time. When transferring five crops A, any one of the adsorbents 52a and 62a is retracted or suspended.
[0034]
The item measuring device 70 described above includes a first measuring device 70a for measuring predetermined items on the lower surface of the crop A and the entire circumference of the side surface while moving from the upper portion of the transfer remaining processing device 30 to the upper portion of the tray transport device 40, and the upper surface of the crop A. And the second measuring device 70b that measures the predetermined items in the middle of the conveyance, and the measurement information measured by the first measuring device 70a and the second measuring device 70b, the predetermined items of the entire crop A are individually evaluated and determined. It is comprised with the determination control apparatus 77 to perform.
[0035]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the first measuring device 70 a described above has an imaging camera 71 that images the outer surface of the crop A that is adsorbed and held by the adsorbers 62 a. A is attached to the central portion of the movable frame 73 disposed at a substantially intermediate portion of the mounting plates 31 and 31 and the transport conveyor 41 with an interval substantially facing A ... to detect predetermined items with respect to the outer surface of the crop A. The illumination device 72 for irradiating light suitable for the above is attached to both ends of the movable frame 73 so as to face the outer surface of the crop A moved to the imaging range of the imaging camera 71, and the movable frame 73 is mounted on the mounting plates 31, 31 and It is attached to a support shaft 74 that is pivoted substantially below the intermediate portion of the conveyor 41.
[0036]
Further, the support shaft 74 is rotated up and down (for example, approximately 90 degrees) by a rotating device 75 such as an air cylinder, a solenoid, or a motor, and the imaging camera 71 images the lower surface of the crop A that is adsorbed and held by the adsorber 62a. It rotates to the lower surface measurement posture in the substantially upward state and the side surface measurement posture in the substantially horizontal state in which the crop A side surface is imaged.
[0037]
The second measuring device 70b described above passes through a weight measuring device (not shown) that measures the weight of the crop A placed on the tray C, an imaging camera (not shown) that images the top surface of the crop A, and the inside of the crop A. An imaging camera (not shown) that images the transmitted light is arranged above and below the conveyance path. In addition, since the method of measuring the weight of the crop A, imaging the upper surface of the crop A, and measuring a predetermined item inside the crop A is configured by a known measurement method, detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, instead of the imaging camera, optical measuring means such as a video camera or a digital camera may be used.
[0038]
The image processing device 76 converts the measurement information output from the first measurement device 70a and the second measurement device 70b into an information form suitable for evaluating and determining a predetermined item of the crop A (for example, binary). And output to the determination control device 77.
[0039]
In addition, the determination control device 77 (for example, a device including a personal computer, a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM) receives measurement information output from the first measurement device 70a and the second measurement device 70b and reference information stored in advance. Comparing and calculating, a predetermined item of the entire crop A (for example, hue, damage, maturity, size, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, degree of decay, condition of floating skin, non-standard class, etc. The sugar acidity) is comprehensively determined individually, and the determination information is recorded in the RAM in the order of measurement and updated as needed.
[0040]
In addition, for example, a discharge nozzle 79 connected to an air supply source such as an air supply blower or a compressor is attached to the movable frame 73 so as to face the lens surface of the imaging camera 71, and a foreign matter attached to the lens surface of the imaging camera 71 (For example, crop skin and oil, juice or paper waste, dust, dust, etc.) are removed with a gas (for example, air, gas, volatile liquid, etc.) discharged from the discharge nozzle 79.
[0041]
On the other hand, FIG. 15 shows a control circuit block diagram of the device under test measuring apparatus 10, and the CPU built in the determination control device 77 (for example, a personal computer) follows a program stored in a ROM (or PROM), Controls driving and stopping of the container transport device 20, the transfer remaining processing device 30, the tray transport device 40, the first transfer device 50, the second transfer device 60, the item measurement device 70, and the information communication device 78. In the RAM, the sorting information and the nonconformity information determined based on a predetermined determination criterion are recorded in the order of measurement or address.
[0042]
In the above-described RAM, image information and weight information output from the item measuring device 70, identification information for each adsorber 62a that is set in advance, and each tray C that is transported to the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41 are stored. Is stored in correspondence with the identification information. The determination result determined based on the image information output from the imaging camera 71 is stored in association with the identification information (or unique information) of the tray C read by the information communication device 78 described later.
[0043]
The information communication device 78 disposed below the conveyor 41 is opposed to the recording medium Ca of the tray C conveyed by the tray conveying device 40, and the determination result (sorting information) by the above-described determination control device 77 is recorded on the recording medium Ca. To be readable and writable. Further, instead of the recording medium Ca described above, for example, barcode information attached to the tray C may be read, or a time lag until the tray C is conveyed to the sorting section corresponding to the determination may be measured.
[0044]
The illustrated embodiment is configured as described above, and a method for measuring predetermined items of the entire crop A by the measured object measuring apparatus 10 will be described below.
[0045]
First, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, after the container transport device 20 is driven to transport the containers B and B containing the crops A to the supply section a on the transport conveyor 21, the transfer device The two pushers 22a are collectively moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction, transferred to the container mounting tables 23 and 23, and held by a pair of support plates 23b. And after returning the pusher 22a to the initial position, the next containers B and B are conveyed to the supply section a on the conveyor 21. On the other hand, the tray transfer device 40 is driven to transfer the unmounted trays C placed on the transfer conveyor 41 to the transfer section b.
[0046]
Next, the first row of crops A contained in the containers B, B are adsorbed by the adsorbents 52a of the transfer unit 52 constituting the first transfer device 50, as shown in FIGS. The container C is moved from the upper side of the container mounting table 23 to the upper side of the mounting plates 31, 31 while being separated from the trays C... It is transferred to the mounting plates 31 of the rest processing apparatus 30. After the transfer is completed, the transfer unit 52 is returned to the upper side of the container mounting table 23.
[0047]
In addition, the crops A on the placement plates 31, 31 are sucked and held by the adsorbers 62 a of the transfer unit 62 constituting the second transfer device 60 and are transported to the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41. Tray C ... moved upward. In the same manner as described above, the transfer units 52 and 62 are alternately reciprocated, and the second to fourth rows of crops A ... accommodated in the container B are transferred to the mounting plate 31 of the transfer remaining processing device 30. The operation of transferring one row at a time to 31 and the operation of transferring the crops A placed on the loading plates 31, 31 one by one to the trays C conveyed to the transfer section b are continuously performed. .
[0048]
And when the last row of crops A contained in the container B is attracted and held by the adsorbers 52a, the support by the support plates 23b and 23b is released, and the container mounting tables 23 and 23 are lowered, The containers B and B from which all the crops A are removed are transferred to the collection conveyor 24 and conveyed to the collection process. And after returning the container mounting base 23 and the pair of support plates 23b to the initial positions, the next containers B and B waiting in the supply section a on the transport conveyor 21 are horizontally moved by the transfer device 22, and the container mounting base 23, 23 and is held by a pair of support plates 23b.
[0049]
On the other hand, when the agricultural products A ... adsorbed and held by the adsorbers 62a ... are moved from above the placement plates 31, 31 to above the transport conveyor 41, as shown in FIG. The imaging camera 71 of the first measuring device 70a to be configured takes an image from substantially below. When the crop A is moved above the tray C transported to the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41, the imaging camera 71 is rotated in a direction facing the side of the crop A as shown in FIG. The crop A is horizontally rotated by approximately 270 degrees, and the entire side surface of the crop A (for example, front and rear and left and right four sides) is imaged. In addition, the image information of the upper surface of the crop A and the entire circumference of the side surface is output and stored in the determination control device 77 in association with the identification information of the adsorbent 62a and the tray C.
[0050]
Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, after the crops A that are adsorbed and held by the adsorbers 62 a... Are collectively transferred to the trays C on the conveyor 41, they are also shown in FIGS. As described above, the trays C on which the crops A are placed and the unmounted trays C are horizontally moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction by the pusher 42a of the transfer device 44 and are collectively transferred to the transport conveyor 43. Then, it is transported into the measurement area of the second measuring device 70b. In addition, after the pusher 42a is returned to the initial position, the unmounted trays C ... that are waiting immediately before the transfer section b are transported into the transfer section b on the transport conveyor 41, and are transferred by the second transfer device 60. Continue to transfer.
[0051]
Next, predetermined items such as the upper surface, the inside, and the weight of the crop A placed on the tray C transported by the transport conveyor 43 were measured by the second measuring device 70b, and the measurement information was read by the information communication device 78. The information is output and stored in the determination control device 77 in association with the identification information of the tray C.
[0052]
On the other hand, based on the measurement information output from the first measurement device 70a and the second measurement device 70b, predetermined items of the entire crop A are comprehensively determined individually by the determination control device 77, and the information communication device 78 is recorded on the tray C. The determination result (sorting information) by the determination control device 77 is recorded on the determination control device 77 and the recording medium Ca in opposition to the medium Ca.
[0053]
In addition, the tray C on which the crop A transported by the transport conveyor 43 is placed is sorted by item based on the sorting information recorded in the determination control device 77 and the recording medium Ca of the tray C, and the crop A is mechanically processed. Boxing is done by work and human work. On the other hand, the tray C from which the crop A that has been returned and transported from the sorting step is removed is supplied to the transport conveyor 41. In the same manner, the operation of transferring the crop A from the container B to the tray C and the operation of measuring predetermined items of the entire crop A are continuously performed.
[0054]
As described above, the containers B and B in which a predetermined number of crops A are accommodated and the trays C on which the crops A are placed are moved in a direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction, so that the container mounting table 23 and the transport conveyor are moved. 43, the containers B, B, and trays C ... are moved in a shorter distance than the containers in the transport direction, and the operation time required for supplying the containers B, B, trays C ... is shortened. can do. Further, since the containers B, B and the trays C are moved and supplied in a batch while being aligned in the conveying direction, the work of transferring and supplying the crops A can be efficiently performed, and the efficiency of the article supply work and the transfer work is achieved. You can plan up.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of an object measuring apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a method for measuring crops by an object measuring apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conveyance path for agricultural products, containers, and trays.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state before transfer of a container in which agricultural products are stored.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a transfer operation of a container in which agricultural products are stored.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state before transfer of a tray on which agricultural products are placed.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state after transfer of the tray on which the crop is placed.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a transfer operation of a tray on which agricultural products are placed.
FIG. 9 is a side view showing a measurement operation of the bottom surface of the crop by the item measuring device.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing an operation for measuring the side of a crop by the item measuring device.
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a crop scaling operation by the first transfer device.
FIG. 12 is a front view showing a crop transfer operation by the second transfer device.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a container in which crops are aligned and stored.
FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an example in which crops are accommodated in the shape of a grid and a staggered pattern of b.
FIG. 15 is a control circuit block diagram of a device under test measuring apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
A ... agricultural crops B ... container C ... tray 10 ... measurement object measuring device 20 ... container conveying device 21 ... conveying conveyor 22,42 ... transfer device 24 ... collection conveyor 30 ... transfer remaining processing device 40 ... tray conveying device 41, 43 ... Conveyor 50 ... First transfer device 60 ... Second transfer device

Claims (3)

Container transport means for transporting a container containing a plurality of articles;
Container placing means for placing a container containing the article;
Placement unit conveyance comprising a first placement unit conveyance unit that conveys a placement unit on which the article is placed, and a second placement unit conveyance unit that is provided alongside the first placement unit conveyance unit. Means,
An article transfer means for transferring an article to a plurality of placement sections transported by the placement section transport means from a container placed on the container placement means;
A container supply means for moving the container in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction and supplying the container from the container conveying means to the container mounting means;
A container collecting means for removing and collecting the container from which the article has been removed from the container placing means ;
A placement portion supply means disposed on a side portion of the first placement portion transporting means and having a pusher that is brought into contact with the side surface of the placement portion and moves back and forth;
The placement unit on which the article is placed is horizontally moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveyance direction by the pusher of the placement unit supply unit, and is supplied from the first placement unit conveyance unit to the second placement unit conveyance unit. An article supply device. 2. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container supply means comprises a container transfer means for transferring a plurality of containers conveyed by the container transfer means to the container placement means while being aligned in the transfer direction. . The placement unit supply unit is collectively transferred from the first placement unit transport unit to the second placement unit transport unit while the plurality of placement units on which the article is placed are aligned in the transport direction. The article supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article supply apparatus is configured by a placement portion transfer means .

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